When Temperance Issues Raged:
Scottish Masonic Lodge Mossgiel No. 902 S.C.
was there to help fight the battle.
Temperance is described as abstinence from consuming alcohol:
Without wanting to moralise in any way, there is no doubt that alcohol has, does, and will continue to contribute to human misery through the coming years. Countless societal problems arise from excessive alcohol consumption and our governments continue to wring their hands; issue meaningless statements of concern and kick the hell out of the publicans while they continue to bank the proceeds from the licenses and excise!
Numerous are the tales arising from Freemason’s meetings and members getting home in the wee hours of the morning happily drunk and as full as the so-called goog. And so it was, with that background, that local Freemasons established a “temperance” lodge in Boulder in 1898.
Ms Carry Nation – leader of the Temperance movement
The following is an edited extract from the History of Lodge Mossgiel No 902 S.C., written in 1948
“In a large percentage of cases, the history of a lodge would be a monotonous and uninteresting recital of degree work of insufficient importance to warrant a detailed history. In the case of Lodge Mossgiel, however, there are some unique features that call for more than passing notice. The lodge was formed in peculiar circumstances and with a special object.
In the year 1898 at the December meeting of Lodge Ivanhoe, a Brother, replying to the toast of the visitors, told about a little boy who was rather obstreperous when his mother wished to strip him and put him to bed. He said:
“When I grow up I am going to be a Freemason like Dad.” “Why’s that?” queried his mother.
“Because when Dad comes home from lodge you let him go to bed with his boots on!”
This story appeared to some of the brethren to cast an unwarranted reflection on the practice of Freemasonry, insinuating as it does that one of the reasons for being a Freemason was the opportunity of indulging in intoxicating liquor. As there appeared to some brethren to be a general impression in the outside world that there was some truth in this impression, these brethren felt that something should be done to refute the libel and the surest method would be the formation of a lodge in which no intoxicating liquor would be permitted at the festive board – the social dinner that follows each meeting.
Much discussion took place, and finally, it was decided to apply for a charter for such a lodge, and the result was that this course was followed. The brethren interested in its formation were not teetotallers, and there was no idea of propagating total abstinence ideals. Rather it was the intention to prove by this gesture that Freemasonry in no way depended on intoxicating liquor for its existence. Bro. Maughan pointed out that such a lodge, so long as it remained teetotal, would be proof that Freemasonry is no way depended for its existence on any such trivial raison d’être. If, however, such a lodge should abandon its teetotal principles, it would leave Freemasonry in the district open to the reproach that without intoxicating liquor it could not continue to exist. Therefore the formation of such a lodge should not be undertaken light-heartedly as its failure would undoubtedly asperse the reputation of the craft as a whole.
It was therefore decided that the by-laws of the lodge to be formed should contain one forbidding the use of the lodge funds on intoxicating liquor.”
This cartoon postcard above was typical of a series of public ‘spoofs of Freemasonry in the early part of the 20th Century when the Temperance movements began to capture public interest. Freemasons were seen as fair ‘game’.
Instead of alcohol in the cold winter evenings, Lodge Mossgiel resorted to providing only hot tea and coffee. The written history says this proved very welcome and acceptable to the brethren and visitors alike. In the warmer months they, of course, had (only) iced water and soft drinks.
The Temperance movements were dedicated to promoting moderation and, more often, complete abstinence in the use of intoxicating liquor. Abstinence pledges had been introduced by the churches as early as 1800 and the movement spread rapidly under the influence of the churches by the mid-1800s. The particularly unattractive woman in the photo above – Carry Nation – was a leading agitator for the Temperance cause in the USA in the mid-19th Century and is responsible for the phrase – ugly enough to drive you to drink!. No, that’s not correct – I made it up.
The axe in her hands is more than symbolic – it was the weapon of war used by the Temperance advocates and was used on occasion to strike the wooden liquor barrels, and bottles, causing them to discharge their contents.
By the late 19th Century Temperance was really ‘swinging’ along and thousands of local societies were formed throughout the then “western world”. Starting in Ireland, the ‘movement’ spread to Great Britain and then onto Europe and the USA. Australia wasn’t far behind with the Independent Order of Rechabites, a type of lodge, established in Sydney in the 1870’s – and they still exist!
The Temperance movement, with the help of its many foot-soldiers such as the Rechabites, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the Independent Order of Good Templars, etc. managed to rack up political successes including the introduction of the 6 pm closing for all hotels in NSW.
Their work in USA was even more complete when, in 1917, they managed to get the US Government under President Woodrow Wilson to introduce the 18th Amendment to ban the sale of alcoholic drinks altogether. It was disguised as a means of directing more grain to food production rather than alcohol production when the US entered the battlefields of WW1. It was an unmitigated disaster.
President Franklyn Roosevelt won a resounding victory in 1933 and the laws of prohibition were lifted but, in the meantime, the Temperance movement had argued for and won, proposals to make certain areas liquor-free – they were called “dry areas.” In fact there is still a small pocket of about a dozen suburbs in the eastern sector of Melbourne where residents can oppose the issue of new licenses with the consequence that there are no pubs and only a limited number of other licensed venues
Australia supported the creation of several temperance-specific organisations such as the Sons and Daughters of Temperance and the Independent Order of Good Templars. Through all of this, Lodge Mossgiel continued resolutely, maintaining the ‘temperance’ principle on which they were created, as the turmoils of WW1 and WW2; the prohibition era, and the great depression raged across the globe. The list of past Master’s contains the names of future (now long past) Mayors and members of Parliament, prominent business owners, and mining identities.
One such member was Bro. Flett, a carpenter who manufactured and donated the Secretary’s desk still used in the Kalgoorlie Masonic Temple.
One such member was Bro. Flett, a carpenter who manufactured and donated the Secretary’s desk still used in the Kalgoorlie Masonic Temple.
Another example of a Lodge Mossgiel serviette provided to guests at one of their Annual. Installations. This one from 1939
This photo is of the Mossgiel Past Master’s Jewel presented to Brother F.P. Pascoe
As a result of some very strange ‘dirty work’ behind the scenes, Lodge Mossgiel was ejected from the Scottish Constitution in 1944, along with Lodge Trafalgar No. 926. They were both admitted to the WA Constitution of Freemasons at a ceremony held on 23rd August 1944. These two lodges were amalgamated on 30th June 1969 – the 70th Anniversary of the creation of Lodge Mossgiel and became Lodge Trafalgar. Neither now exist.
Author Bro. Doug Daws, OAM, JP. P.D.G.M. Western Australian Goldfields District Grand Lodge, S.C
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